eyefinity question

[realBabelfish]

hi guys

im building a new PC for work (getting my bits from OCers) and am looking at this as my basic gfx card

Asus ATI Radeon HD 6670 1024MB GDDR3 PCI-Express Graphics Card
( http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-258-AS )

i dont need anything too flashy.

can i run eyefinity 3 monitors on these ATI cards in that i have a 24" screen and a 19" screen with another 19" screen sitting here not doing anything.

if i get a HDMI to VGA/DIV adaptor can i run all three monitors at the right resolution or am i limited to them all being the same resolution?

i would imagine it can run all 3 at their native resolutions (2 @ 1280x1024 and 1 @ 1920x1200) but just wanted to make sure.

i can then hide wonderfully behind a wall of monitors!

 

[MeMeMeMe]

If you're running them at different resolutions, you can't use Eyefinity. There's nothing stopping you using standard extended mode with 3 monitors though - which does allow different resolutions.

That card only has 2 video outputs, so you'll need to get a second card. You won't be running in crossfire: just connect 2 monitors to one card and the 3rd to the other. Yes, you can use an adaptor.

 

[realBabelfish]

doh! i just looked at the pic

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-267-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=

will be nice to cut down on the fans too!

seems to do the trick. plus i get a free game

 

[FatFishMonster]

if you are willing to spend around £100 then i would go for a 6850 or maybe a 5830. but as you do say you dont want anything to flashy. then maybe look at a 6770 or the old 5770, these can be picked up for around £50 ( i just sold one)

 

[MeMeMeMe]

doh! i just looked at the pic

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-267-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=

will be nice to cut down on the fans too!

seems to do the trick. plus i get a free game

As far as I am aware, you can only drive 3 monitors from one ATI card if one of the outputs is DisplayPort (and you can't drive 3 monitors from any single NVidia card). I'm not 100% sure, but before buying I'd ask the retailer to clarify whether all 3 outputs on that card can be used at the same time.

The easiest way to get 3 monitors running is with 2 graphic cards. You can mix and match ATI and NVidia cards if you're running Windows 7 with no issues. If you do any gaming, make sure you make sure your primary monitor is attached to the most powerful graphic card and it will be used.
The second card can be the cheapest possible card you can find- an old PCI card or a PCIEx1 card will be fine, if you can find one.

If you need 3 outputs from one card, you will most likely have to get a DP-equipped card, which means you're looking at a minimum of a 6770 probably, along with one of these:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-249-SP